- Is there plenty of counter space between appliances?
- Is there enough space at the cornerts for drawers to open
fully?
- Have you planned adjustable and roll-out shelving for the
cabinets?
- Do the cabinets come with knobs, or do they have to be selected?
- Where will the knobs or pulls be placed on the cabinets?
Will they interfere with appliance door openings?
- Is the microwave at the right height for pulling out hot
items? Can children access it?
- Are the other appliances installed at the right height for
easy access?
- Have you planned enough under-cabinet lighting?
- Are light fixtures planned for above the sink, cooktop,
or range?
- Has the toe kick below the cabinets been designd for the
thickness of your flooring?
- Will the new kitchen floor match the style and height of
flooring in adjoining rooms?
- Will new walls be trimmed with baseboard, or will the floor
be coved?
- How will this baseboard or cove meet the molding around
the doors?
- How will the walls be finished? Will they have to be prepared
for painting or wallpaper?
- How will the ceiling be finished?
Double-check your plan
- Is the work flow uninterrupted? Traffic should flow
around the kitchen's work triangle. If it doesn't, collisions
are likely between the cook and anyone passing through.
- Is there optimum space between work centers? It's
best to allow 4 to 9 feet between the range and refrigerator,
4 to 7 feet between the refrigerator and the sink, and 4 to
6 feet between the sink and the range. Tighten up this work
triangle and you've created a traffic jam. Allow too much
space and you'll need track shoes to work in your kitchen.
Is there counter space near each work center? Counter
space on both sides of the sink (18 to 24 inches on each side)
is a given. You also need space near the refrigerator (15 inches
on the handle side) to set foods, a heat-resistant space near
the microwave oven and wall ovens (15 to 18 inches on one side)
to set hot pans, and room around the cooktop (12 to 18 inches
on each side) for appliances. Do you have enough storage
space where you need it? Basic storage standards suggest
18 square feet of cabinet space plus 6 additional square feet
for each family member. Plan storage space near where the item
will be used first: pot storage near the range and food storage
near the mixing center, for examples. You'll need space for
cool storage: 12 cubic feet (refrigerator/freezer) for two people.
Add 2 cubic feet for each additional person. Can you make
room for eating? If you are short on space, consider a counter
eating area that can double as food-preparation space. For a
table and chairs, plan a minimum of 32 inches between the table
and the wall.
Check standard dimensions
Keep in mind these standard dimensions:
- Factory-built base cabinets are made in 3-inch increments
from 12 to 48 inches wide and are 24 inches deep (front to
back).
- Wall cabinets range from 12 to 48 inches wide and 12 to
13 inches deep.
- Appliances placed opposite one another require 5 to 6 feet
of clearance so that doors can open at the same time without
interference. Consider allowing at least 15 inches on either
side of the range for setting hot items.
- Counter surfaces are usually 36 inches high. Allow 15 to
18 inches clearance between a countertop and the underside
of the wall cabinet above it for small appliances such as
a blender, mixer, or coffeemaker.
- For standard-depth cabinets over a sink, allow at least
30 inches above the sink rim.
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